1.Treatment of Liver Cancer by Intervening TGF-β Signaling Pathway with Traditional Chinese Medicine: A Review
Hao CHENG ; Haohao GUO ; Jun SUN ; Juan XUE ; Chunyan JI ; Shiyi LI ; Yuxue DING ; Huaqiang YUE
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(8):318-326
Liver cancer is one of the most common malignant tumors in the digestive system and ranks sixth among newly diagnosed malignant tumors worldwide. Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) regulates cell differentiation, proliferation, apoptosis, and other physiological and pathological mechanisms and exerts cancer-suppressive and pro-cancerous dual effects in the process of tumor development. In recent years, with the continuous exploration of the mechanism of liver cancer, it has been found that the conversion of the cancer-suppressive effect into a pro-cancerous effect of this pathway plays a key role in the development of liver cancer. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) provides a unique perspective for the classification, diagnosis, and treatment of liver cancer with its comprehensive regulatory effects of multi-components, multi-targets, and multi-pathways. This paper summarized that the cancer-suppressive mechanisms of the TGF-β signaling pathway included promoting cancer cell cycle arrest, apoptosis, autophagy, et al, while the pro-cancerous mechanisms included promoting cancer cell proliferation, invasion and metastasis, immunosuppression, angiogenesis, et al. The TCM compounds intervening this pathway were sorted out, including Jianpi Huayu compound, Fuyang Baoyuan compound, Yipi Yanggan compound, Fuzheng Jiedu compound, compound Astragalus and Salvia, Biejia Jianwan, Dahuang Zhechong pill, and Qingxiang powder. The single TCMs mainly included Schizocapsa plantaginea, Dendrobii Caulis, Gleditsia sinensis, and Dracaena cochinchinensis. The active ingredients of TCM are mainly concentrated on flavonoids, alkaloids, glycosides, phenolics, terpenoids, polysaccharides, and other kinds of compounds. At the same time, it summarized that the liver cancer inhibition mechanism of TCM by regulating this pathway mainly included promoting apoptosis of liver cancer cells, blocking the cell cycle, and inhibiting liver cancer cell proliferation, migration, invasion, angiogenesis, immune escape, etc. The mechanism aims to give full play to the advantages of TCM and precisely regulate the TGF-β signal, thereby exerting positive anti-tumor effects, opening up a new direction for the precise targeted treatment of liver cancer, and providing a scientific basis and a new strategy for the application of TCM in the treatment of liver cancer.
2.Treatment of Liver Cancer by Intervening TGF-β Signaling Pathway with Traditional Chinese Medicine: A Review
Hao CHENG ; Haohao GUO ; Jun SUN ; Juan XUE ; Chunyan JI ; Shiyi LI ; Yuxue DING ; Huaqiang YUE
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(8):318-326
Liver cancer is one of the most common malignant tumors in the digestive system and ranks sixth among newly diagnosed malignant tumors worldwide. Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) regulates cell differentiation, proliferation, apoptosis, and other physiological and pathological mechanisms and exerts cancer-suppressive and pro-cancerous dual effects in the process of tumor development. In recent years, with the continuous exploration of the mechanism of liver cancer, it has been found that the conversion of the cancer-suppressive effect into a pro-cancerous effect of this pathway plays a key role in the development of liver cancer. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) provides a unique perspective for the classification, diagnosis, and treatment of liver cancer with its comprehensive regulatory effects of multi-components, multi-targets, and multi-pathways. This paper summarized that the cancer-suppressive mechanisms of the TGF-β signaling pathway included promoting cancer cell cycle arrest, apoptosis, autophagy, et al, while the pro-cancerous mechanisms included promoting cancer cell proliferation, invasion and metastasis, immunosuppression, angiogenesis, et al. The TCM compounds intervening this pathway were sorted out, including Jianpi Huayu compound, Fuyang Baoyuan compound, Yipi Yanggan compound, Fuzheng Jiedu compound, compound Astragalus and Salvia, Biejia Jianwan, Dahuang Zhechong pill, and Qingxiang powder. The single TCMs mainly included Schizocapsa plantaginea, Dendrobii Caulis, Gleditsia sinensis, and Dracaena cochinchinensis. The active ingredients of TCM are mainly concentrated on flavonoids, alkaloids, glycosides, phenolics, terpenoids, polysaccharides, and other kinds of compounds. At the same time, it summarized that the liver cancer inhibition mechanism of TCM by regulating this pathway mainly included promoting apoptosis of liver cancer cells, blocking the cell cycle, and inhibiting liver cancer cell proliferation, migration, invasion, angiogenesis, immune escape, etc. The mechanism aims to give full play to the advantages of TCM and precisely regulate the TGF-β signal, thereby exerting positive anti-tumor effects, opening up a new direction for the precise targeted treatment of liver cancer, and providing a scientific basis and a new strategy for the application of TCM in the treatment of liver cancer.
3.Introduction of the main addition and revision of the Chinese Pharmacopoeia 2025 Edition(Volume Ⅱ)
ZHOU Yi ; WANG Zhijun ; YUE Zhihua ; CHENG Qilei ; YUE Ruiqi ; YANG Xi ; GUO Wei ; MA Shuangcheng
Drug Standards of China 2025;26(1):023-027
The Pharmacopeia of the People’s Republic of China 2025 Edition (referred to as the Chinese Pharmacopoeia 2025 Edition, ChP 2025) will be promulgated and implemented. This article introduces the process of development of ChP 2025 Edition (Volume Ⅱ), including the selection, the revision of general notices,the addition and revision of drug monographs, etc., and provides some analysis and examples to illustrate,which can facilitate the readers to understand and implement the ChP 2025 Edition (Volume Ⅱ).
4.Production of GTKO pigs and kidney xenotransplantation from pigs to rhesus macaques
Yan WANG ; Yue CHANG ; Chang YANG ; Taiyun WEI ; Xiaoying HUO ; Bowei CHEN ; Jiaoxiang WANG ; Heng ZHAO ; Jianxiong GUO ; Hongfang ZHAO ; Xiong ZHANG ; Feiyan ZHU ; Wenmin CHENG ; Hongye ZHAO ; Kaixiang XU ; Ameen Jamal MUHAMMAD ; Zhendi WANG ; Hongjiang WEI
Organ Transplantation 2025;16(4):526-537
Objective To explore the construction of α-1,3-galactosyltransferase (GGTA1) gene-knockout (GTKO) Diannan miniature pigs and the kidney xenotransplantation from pigs to rhesus macaques, and to assess the effectiveness of GTKO pigs. Methods The GTKO Diannan miniature pigs were constructed using the CRISPR/Cas9 gene-editing system and somatic cell cloning technology. The phenotype of GTKO pigs was verified through polymerase chain reaction, Sanger sequencing and immunofluorescence staining. Flow cytometry was used to detect antigen-antibody (IgM) binding and complement-dependent cytotoxicity. Kidney xenotransplantation was performed from GTKO pigs to rhesus macaques. The humoral immunity, cellular immunity, coagulation and physiological indicators of the recipient monkeys were monitored. The function and pathological changes of the transplanted kidneys were analyzed using ultrasonography, hematoxylin-eosin staining, immunohistochemical staining and immunofluorescence staining. Results Single-guide RNA (sgRNA) targeting exon 4 of the GGTA1 gene in Diannan miniature pigs was designed. The pGL3-GGTA1-sgRNA1-GFP vector was transfected into fetal fibroblasts of Diannan miniature pigs. After puromycin selection, two cell clones, C59# and C89#, were identified as GGTA1 gene-knockout clones. These clones were expanded to form cell lines, which were used as donor cells for somatic cell nuclear transfer. The reconstructed embryos were transferred into the oviducts of trihybrid surrogate sows, resulting in 13 fetal pigs. Among them, fetuses F04 and F11 exhibited biallelic mutations in the GGTA1 gene, and F04 had a normal karyotype. Using this GTKO fetal pig for recloning and transferring the reconstructed embryos into the oviducts of trihybrid surrogate sows, seven surviving piglets were obtained, all of which did not express α-Gal epitope. The binding of IgM from the serum of rhesus monkey 20# to GTKO pig PBMC was reduced, and the survival rate of GTKO pig PBMC in the complement-dependent cytotoxicity assay was higher than that of wild-type pig. GTKO pig kidneys were harvested and perfused until completely white. After the left kidney of the recipient monkey was removed, the pig kidney was heterotopically transplanted. Following vascular anastomosis and blood flow restoration, the pig kidney rapidly turned pink without hyperacute rejection (HAR). Urine appeared in the ureter 6 minutes later, indicating successful kidney transplantation. The right kidney of the recipient was then removed. Seven days after transplantation, the transplanted kidney had good blood flow, the recipient monkey's serum creatinine level was stable, and serum potassium and cystatin C levels were effectively controlled, although they increased 10 days after transplantation. Seven days after transplantation, the levels of white blood cells, lymphocytes, monocytes and eosinophils in the recipient monkey increased, while platelet count and fibrinogen levels decreased. The activated partial thromboplastin time, thrombin time and prothrombin time remained relatively stable but later showed an upward trend. The recipient monkey survived for 10 days. At autopsy, the transplanted kidney was found to be congested, swollen and necrotic, with a small amount of IgG deposition in the renal tissue, and a large amount of IgM, complement C3c and C4d deposition, as well as CD68+ macrophage infiltration. Conclusions The kidneys of GTKO Diannan miniature pigs may maintain normal renal function for a certain period in rhesus macaques and effectively overcome HAR, confirming the effectiveness of GTKO pigs for xenotransplantation.
5.Air pollution exposure associated with decline rates in skeletal muscle mass and grip strength and increase rate in body fat in elderly: a 5-year follow-up study.
Chi-Hsien CHEN ; Li-Ying HUANG ; Kang-Yun LEE ; Chih-Da WU ; Shih-Chun PAN ; Yue Leon GUO
Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine 2025;30():56-56
BACKGROUND:
The effect of air pollution on annual change rates in grip strength and body composition in the elderly is unknown.
OBJECTIVES:
This study evaluated the effects of long-term exposure to ambient air pollution on change rates of grip strength and body composition in the elderly.
METHODS:
In the period 2016-2020, grip strength and body composition were assessed and measured 1-2 times per year in 395 elderly participants living in the Taipei basin. Exposure to ambient fine particulate matters (PM2.5), nitric dioxide (NO2), and ozone (O3) from 2015 to 2019 was estimated using a hybrid Kriging/Land-use regression model. In addition, long-term exposure to carbon monoxide (CO) was estimated using an ordinary Kriging approach. Associations between air pollution exposures and annual changes in health outcomes were analyzed using linear mixed-effects models.
RESULTS:
An inter-quartile range (4.1 µg/m3) increase in long-term exposure to PM2.5 was associated with a faster decline rate in grip strength (-0.16 kg per year) and skeletal muscle mass (-0.14 kg per year), but an increase in body fat mass (0.21 kg per year). The effect of PM2.5 remained robust after adjustment for NO2, O3 and CO exposure. In subgroup analysis, the PM2.5-related decline rate in grip strength was greater in participants with older age (>70 years) or higher protein intake, whereas in skeletal muscle mass, the decline rate was more pronounced in participants having a lower frequency of moderate or strenuous exercise. The PM2.5-related increase rate in body fat mass was higher in participants having a lower frequency of strenuous exercise or soybean intake.
CONCLUSIONS
Among the elderly, long-term exposure to ambient PM2.5 is associated with a faster decline in grip strength and skeletal muscle mass, and an increase in body fat mass. Susceptibility to PM2.5 may be influenced by age, physical activity, and dietary protein intake; however, these modifying effects vary across different health outcomes, and further research is needed to clarify their mechanisms and consistency.
Humans
;
Hand Strength
;
Aged
;
Male
;
Female
;
Environmental Exposure/adverse effects*
;
Follow-Up Studies
;
Taiwan
;
Air Pollution/adverse effects*
;
Particulate Matter/adverse effects*
;
Muscle, Skeletal/drug effects*
;
Air Pollutants/adverse effects*
;
Ozone/adverse effects*
;
Aged, 80 and over
;
Adipose Tissue/drug effects*
;
Body Composition/drug effects*
;
Nitrogen Dioxide/adverse effects*
6.NO-releasing double-crosslinked responsive hydrogels accelerate the treatment and repair of ischemic stroke.
Wen GUO ; Cheng HU ; Yue WANG ; Wen ZHANG ; Shaomin ZHANG ; Jin PENG ; Yunbing WANG ; Jinhui WU
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B 2025;15(2):1112-1125
Stroke is a global disease that seriously threatens human life. The pathological mechanisms of ischemic stroke include neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, and the destruction of blood vessels at the lesion site. Here, a biocompatible in situ hydrogel platform was designed to target multiple pathogenic mechanisms post-stroke, including anti-inflammation, anti-oxidant, and promotion of angiogenesis. Double-crosslinked responsive multifunctional hydrogels could quickly respond to the pathological microenvironment of the ischemic damage site and mediate the delivery of nitric oxide (NO) and ISO-1 (inhibitor of macrophage migration inhibitory factor, MIF). The hydrogel demonstrated good biocompatibility and could scavenge reactive oxygen species (ROS) and inflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-10 (IL-10), and MIF. In a mouse stroke model, hydrogels, when situated within the microenvironment of cerebral infarction characterized by weak acidity and elevated ROS release, would release anti-inflammatory nanoparticles rapidly that exert an anti-inflammatory effect. Concurrently, NO was sustained release to facilitate angiogenesis and provide neuroprotective effects. Neurological function was significantly improved in treated mice as assessed by the modified neurological severity score, rotarod test, and open field test. These findings indicate that the designed hydrogel held promise for sustained delivery of NO and ISO-1 to alleviate cerebral ischemic injury by responding to the brain's pathological microenvironment.
7.Percutaneous coronary intervention vs . medical therapy in patients on dialysis with coronary artery disease in China.
Enmin XIE ; Yaxin WU ; Zixiang YE ; Yong HE ; Hesong ZENG ; Jianfang LUO ; Mulei CHEN ; Wenyue PANG ; Yanmin XU ; Chuanyu GAO ; Xiaogang GUO ; Lin CAI ; Qingwei JI ; Yining YANG ; Di WU ; Yiqiang YUAN ; Jing WAN ; Yuliang MA ; Jun ZHANG ; Zhimin DU ; Qing YANG ; Jinsong CHENG ; Chunhua DING ; Xiang MA ; Chunlin YIN ; Zeyuan FAN ; Qiang TANG ; Yue LI ; Lihua SUN ; Chengzhi LU ; Jufang CHI ; Zhuhua YAO ; Yanxiang GAO ; Changan YU ; Jingyi REN ; Jingang ZHENG
Chinese Medical Journal 2025;138(3):301-310
BACKGROUND:
The available evidence regarding the benefits of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) on patients receiving dialysis with coronary artery disease (CAD) is limited and inconsistent. This study aimed to evaluate the association between PCI and clinical outcomes as compared with medical therapy alone in patients undergoing dialysis with CAD in China.
METHODS:
This multicenter, retrospective study was conducted in 30 tertiary medical centers across 12 provinces in China from January 2015 to June 2021 to include patients on dialysis with CAD. The primary outcome was major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), defined as a composite of cardiovascular death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, and non-fatal stroke. Secondary outcomes included all-cause death, the individual components of MACE, and Bleeding Academic Research Consortium criteria types 2, 3, or 5 bleeding. Multivariable Cox proportional hazard models were used to assess the association between PCI and outcomes. Inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) and propensity score matching (PSM) were performed to account for potential between-group differences.
RESULTS:
Of the 1146 patients on dialysis with significant CAD, 821 (71.6%) underwent PCI. After a median follow-up of 23.0 months, PCI was associated with a 43.0% significantly lower risk for MACE (33.9% [ n = 278] vs . 43.7% [ n = 142]; adjusted hazards ratio 0.57, 95% confidence interval 0.45-0.71), along with a slightly increased risk for bleeding outcomes that did not reach statistical significance (11.1% vs . 8.3%; adjusted hazards ratio 1.31, 95% confidence interval, 0.82-2.11). Furthermore, PCI was associated with a significant reduction in all-cause and cardiovascular mortalities. Subgroup analysis did not modify the association of PCI with patient outcomes. These primary findings were consistent across IPTW, PSM, and competing risk analyses.
CONCLUSION
This study indicated that PCI in patients on dialysis with CAD was significantly associated with lower MACE and mortality when comparing with those with medical therapy alone, albeit with a slightly increased risk for bleeding events that did not reach statistical significance.
Humans
;
Percutaneous Coronary Intervention/methods*
;
Male
;
Female
;
Coronary Artery Disease/drug therapy*
;
Retrospective Studies
;
Renal Dialysis/methods*
;
Middle Aged
;
Aged
;
China
;
Proportional Hazards Models
;
Treatment Outcome
8.Preliminary study on the construction of an echocardiogram image quality control system based on artificial intelligence
Zhanru QI ; Hanlin CHENG ; Chunjie SHAN ; Ruiyang CHEN ; Hexiang WENG ; Yue DU ; Guanjun GUO ; Xiaoxian WANG ; Jing YAO ; Shouhua LUO ; Aijuan FANG ; Hui CHEN ; Zhongqing SHI
Chinese Journal of Ultrasonography 2025;34(2):107-113
Object:To explore the feasibility of using artificial intelligence for quality control of echocardiographic images.Methods:Retrospectively,5 000 two-dimensional echocardiographic video images within the period from 2021 to 2023 were randomly retrieved from the echocardiography database of Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital,Affiliated Hospital of Medical School,Nanjing University. Among these selected images,1 559 of them were apical views. The physician team formulated the scoring rules,which specifically included four scoring criteria:gain,scaling ratio,cardiac axis angle,and structure. Subsequently,the data were labeled with view classification and image quality scores. The labeled data were further partitioned into the training set( n = 643),the validation set( n = 276),and the test set( n = 640). The training and validation sets were utilized for constructing the models for view classification and quality assessment,while the test set was employed to verify the models' effectiveness. The view classification module was implemented using the SlowFast model,and the quality assessment module involved algorithms such as ResNet,Video Swin Transformer,SSD,and U-Net. Results:The average accuracy,precision,recall rate and F1 score of the classification model in identifying each apical view were 0.987 1,0.983 0,0.987 1 and 0.984 9 respectively,and the inference time was(333.4 ± 105.4)ms. The average accuracies of the quality assessment module in terms of gain,scaling ratio,cardiac axis angle and display of main structures were 0.915 1,0.928 2,0.938 7 and 0.965 6 respectively,and the overall scoring accuracy was 0.912 7.Conclusions:The echocardiogram quality control system developed in this research can effectively classify and evaluate the quality of two-dimensional images of the apical views in echocardiograms. Moreover,it guarantees the objectivity,timeliness and high-efficiency of quality control,which has reference value for the establishment of the echocardiogram quality control system.
9.A comparison and prediction study of wide-field swept-source optical coher-ence tomography angiography in identifying non-perfusion areas in diabetic retinopathy
Chuyun GUO ; Yue HAN ; Li CHEN ; Yi LIU ; Hongzhuang CHENG ; Xinru NING ; Yadan SHEN ; Ruolan LING ; Jie ZHONG ; Jie LI
Recent Advances in Ophthalmology 2025;45(3):211-215
Objective To compare the differences between swept-source optical coherence tomography angiography(SS-OCTA)and ultra-wide-field fluorescein angiography(UWFA)in detecting non-perfusion areas(NPs)in patients with diabetic retinopathy(DR),to evaluate the accuracy of SS-OCTA in predicting NPs outside its visible range,and to explore the distribution patterns of NPs.Methods A retrospective analysis was made on 69 DR patients(88 eyes)who under-went both UWFA and SS-OCTA examinations at the Ophthalmology Department of Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital from December 2022 to September 2024.Manual NP labeling was conducted to compare the detection rate of NPs between the two imaging techniques.The distribution patterns of NPs and the accuracy of SS-OCTA for predicting NPs outside its visible range were also analyzed.Results In a scanning area of 20 mm x 24 mm,the overall NP detection rate by SS-OCTA was 47.40%,with UWFA taken as the standard.The NP detection rate by SS-OCTA was 51.56%in the superotemporal quad-rant,58.35%in the inferotemporal quadrant,45.50%in the superonasal quadrant,and 43.17%in the inferonasal quad-rant.Most NPs occurred in the inferonasal quadrant,accounting for 41.71%of the total NP.The accuracy of SS-OCTA in predicting NPs was 75.00%in the superonasal quadrant and 78.41%in the inferonasal quadrant.The ischemic indices(ISI)of the two imaging techniques were highly positively correlated(r2=0.74).Conclusion Although SS-OCTA can-not yet fully replace UWFA for NP detection in DR patients due to a small visible range,it is still an effective tool to assess retinal ischemia.SS-OCTA has the ability to predict NPs outside its visible range in its scanning range.The inferonasal quadrant is the region where NPs occur most frequently in DR patients,so it is suggested that special attention should be paid to this region in early diagnosis and follow-up periods.
10.Introduction of the main addition and revision of the Chinese Pharmacopoeia 2025 Edition(Volume Ⅱ)
Yi ZHOU ; Zhijun WANG ; Zhihua YUE ; Qilei CHENG ; Ruiqi YUE ; Xi YANG ; Wei GUO ; Shuangcheng MA
Drug Standards of China 2025;26(1):23-27
The Pharmacopeia of the People's Republic of China 2025 Edition(referred to as the Chinese Pharmaco-poeia 2025 Edition,ChP 2025)will be promulgated and implemented.This article introduces the process of devel-opment of ChP 2025 Edition(Volume Ⅱ),including the selection,the revision of general notices,the addition and revision of drug monographs,etc.,and provides some analysis and examples to illustrate,which can facilitate the readers to understand and implement the ChP 2025 Edition(Volume Ⅱ).

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